Calpol!

[Poliosmolio123]

Why does everyone always jump to using Calpol straight away and it's always the first bit of advice they give?

Baby sad, ah must give them calpol
Baby teething Calpol!
Baby has a temperature raised by 0.2 of a degree, oh they need calpol
Baby not sleeping - give them Calpol!

Like, is it only me who just doesn't like the stuff or want to medicate my child willy nilly?

Its the first thing any of my family members do or say and it makes me feel like a shitty parent for not wanting to give it to them! Obviously I would if I was advised by a HC professional.

Is this totally unreasonable?

YABU - I use Calpol all the time
YANBU - I don't use it all the time

Don't get me started about anbesol.

My dd has been really grumpy today, wonder if I need to dig out the calpol, think her back teeth are troubling her thanks thread

smileeachday but how do you even know a baby is in pain? Unless they make a different cry?

Because they won’t settle in any of the usual ways. Or I can see they are teething. Or they’re feverish. Or croaky. With mine, if they were still upset even after breastfeeding, which sorted out most things. Or the million other ways??

Also - when the Calpol kicks in, they immediately calm down. If a painkiller works, then the problem was pain.

@smileeachday Honestly, it was a genuine question. I obviously have a complex over it and am paranoid around using it.

Of course people should give it to children who are in pain with teeth or uncomfortable with a slight fever. I don't know anyone who would give it to make their kid sleep, that's nuts.

Honestly, it was a genuine question. I obviously have a complex over it and am paranoid around using it

I answered your question?

@horehound I'm not trying to be a hero? Why would I be? I'm simply stating its not regularly used in our house. That's not being a hero.

@DancingInDespair My main point was to people who use its for absolutely anything. Honestly, I've been told so many times for so many different reasons to use it. Maybe, I should use it more, who knows.

@Staplemaple Not sure how to take the comment haha but thanks I'll have a look

@smileeachday I read it in the wrong way, I apologise. Here most things are settled with breastfeeding so maybe I'll keep that in mind next time she's upset and is refusing the breast.

Are some people really incapable of giving a child paracetemol without a HCP being involved?

Ear infections are common place here due to hearing aids, as a result calpol is needed fairly regularly just for that. His foster carer insisted he was only in paid if he did a certain cry, thats how she attempted to justify ignoring a really awful ear infection.

@simonjt Obviously, if there's other signs and symptoms I'd be more mindful? But usually, witb other signs and symptoms I call a HCP? Maybe I am being neglectful! But my DD has luckily been pretty good and rarely ever been poorly or bad with her teeth enough to need Calpol, in my eyes.

From being 10m to 14m my son was permentantly getting ill from colds and teething etc. It felt like he was in constant pain. He's such a cheerful boy normally it was an awful period. We did give it multiple times a week. Since baby groups stopped in March he hasnt been ill once or had it all all save one night he woke screaming and very upset despite cuddles so I gave one dose then as I thought it might be pain.

It's all guess work isn't it... If your child is usually happy and shows no signs of discomfort but this changes dramatically, I do assume he is in pain. It could be tummy pain etc.

I've never known anyone who gave it daily.

Those poo-pooing the idea that Calpol helps children sleep are missing the point. It

I agree that a minority of parents over-use it. There is a link between use of paracetamol in childhood and an increased risk of asthma. It's not a clear-cut as being able to say that the paracetamol causes the asthma, but I think the possible risk is a good reason to be careful only to use it when really necessary.

I think the vast majority of parents do use it responsibly, though.

96% alcohol 😂 pass me a straw 🥤 it's cheaper than gin . The sleeping thing is a myth they took all the "good stuff" out years ago it's pure pain relief which in itself will assist with sleep if given when the child is poorly. I know no other parent who gives Calpol willy nilly - frankly a lot of kids hate the taste and I find spit it out so it's a battle to get them to take it even when they need it let alone when they don't.

[quote Poliosmolio123]@simonjt Obviously, if there's other signs and symptoms I'd be more mindful? But usually, witb other signs and symptoms I call a HCP? Maybe I am being neglectful! But my DD has luckily been pretty good and rarely ever been poorly or bad with her teeth enough to need Calpol, in my eyes.[/quote]
I think you're being a bit of a fuss pot actually! Learning when to use your common sense and give a dose of calpol not calling the doctor about everything is basic really. Surgery must be rolling their eyes.
Have more confidence in your own instinct. Most of us haven't killed our kids yet!

[quote NoWordForFluffy]Those poo-pooing the idea that Calpol helps children sleep are missing the point. It

I’m just widnering if maybe I don't use it enough and am potentially damaging my child by doing so

That’s not remotely how you worded your OP, there was no wondering whether you might be doing something wrong amidst your “am I the only one who doesn’t medicate their child willy-billy”. You’re trying to change your tone given that just about everyone has said you’re unreasonable instead of giving you a mummy of the year award.

Bollocks.

With a non verbal child (as all babies are!) it’s surely something you give if you’ve excluded other options or there are other reasons to think they’re in pain. It’s very old school thinking to imagine babies cry for no reason. If they’re fed, changed, winded and comforted but still very sad then it’s not a bad guess that they might be in pain. You can’t and should wait for your child to be old enough to say “mummy, my head is hurting” before ever giving pain relief

I would love to use it but my baby screams her head off when I try. She hates it!!

Any alternatives?

shouldn't

@BranchAndPoppy, sorry, I missed your post saying the same. I saw loads about getting a child to sleep though (which must've been after yours)!

I don't know any parent who gives their child calpol because they are sad - it certainly wouldn't be very effective if they did. I do however know many parents, myself included who will try everything they can to settle the baby and if nothing is working then it could be pain - not all babies have a different cry, neither of mine did. If calpol settles the baby then the problem was pain. Babys have no other way of communicating what is wrong, it's not always easy to tell teething symptoms from other illnesses, I thought my youngest was teething until her temperature went up to 39 degrees - and I still had family members telling me it was just teething. Turns out she had an ear infection, I felt awful. I wouldn't deprive myself of pain relief if needed and I'm certainly not going to risk depriving my children who can't even tell me what's wrong of pain relief.

Your baby might have a different cry for pain in which case something else will work to settle her, you know your child best but other parents know their babies best and your posts do read as very judgemental.

@Todaywewilldobetter so I'm a fuss pot for calling my surgery twice in the past 13 months for advice on my daughters well being and symptoms? 😂

@lissyloulou1 my youngest hates calpol, she spits it out and screams at me - if she needs it then I aim the syringe in between her cheek and gums towards the back it isn't nice but it's the quickest way to get medicine into her when needed. Other wise I think boots sell a cherry flavour childrens paracetamol that might taste better?